The Realism Techniques in Robinson Crusoe Abstract The writing techniques of Defoe's Robinson Crusoe were displayed in three aspects: the authenticity of figures, the authenticity of time, description of specific details and actions. Through the study, the article tries to arouse the reader's attention to the far-reaching influence of the realistic tactics as well as the characterization in the English literature. Key Words: realism; characterization; writing techniques; 1. Introduction \"Robinson Crusoe\" describes Robinson’s 28 years’ island life, and it praises his sprit of fearlessness, hard working, indomitableness and pioneering. When the novel was published, it immediately became a best-seller book known by everyone. The figure Defoe shaped had become a hero widely welcomed in the eyes of the people. It is not only because of its memorable scenario of the story, but also its technique, which broke through the old classical tradition. Under the influence of the mainstream of Enlightenment literature in the 18th century, Defoe created a new realism technique. 2. Exploration of The Realism Techniques in The Novel The literal characteristics of the so-called realism are as follows: First, it is the basic meaning of realism that reflects the social reality truly and objectively. Secondly, well-known model theory. Model theory is the main content of the realism theory, generally speaking, desire solution of model theory is the special and ordinary relationship of literary figures. Thirdly, besides the detailed trueness, model figures should also be reflected in the model circumstances. Therefore, “realism demand that authors should base on the real life, and unveil the relationship between real relation, figures and circumstances, and reflect the laws of nature of the development of the social life at the certain historical time as possible as it can.”[1] And how did Defoe exhibit the realism technique? I will try to discuss the problem from three aspects: 2.1The Authenticity of Figures The novel is based on a real historical events. In 1704, an English sailor named Alexander • Saierkeke was abandoned on a desert island of the coast which was 500 miles away from the coast of Chile during the voyage as his punishment, because of his conflict with the captain. He lived there for four years. He tried to get food by all means for survival, and experienced rough difficulties and almost became a savage in the end. He was not brought back to Britain by a navigator named Rogers until 1708 when Rogers found him. When the news was released, Defoe was very interested with it. Then he made use of the experience of Saierkeke as the stereotype and created the famous masterpiece Robinson Crusoe . We can find the authenticity of figures from the introduction of Robinson: “I was born in the Year 1632, in the City of York, of a good Family, though not of that Country, my Father being a Foreigner of Bremen, who settled first at Hull: He got a good Estate by Merchandise, and leaving off his Trade, lived afterward at York, from whence he had married my Mother, Relations were named Robinson, a very good Family at Country, and from whom I was called Robinson Keutznaer; but by the usual Corruption of Words in England, we are now called, nay we call our Selves, and writer Name Crusoe, and so my Companions always called me. I had two elder Brothers, one of which was lieutenantcolonel to an English Regiment of Foot in Flanders, formerly commanded by the famous Coll. Lockhart, and was killed at the Battle near Dunkirk against the Spaniards: What became of my second Brother I never knew any more than Father or Mother did know what was become of me. Being the third Son of the Family, and not bred to any Trade, my Head began to be filled very early with rambling Thoughts: My Father, who was very ancient, had given me competent Share of Learning, as far as House-Education, and a Country Free-School generally goes, and designed for the Law; but I would be satisfied with nothing but go to Sea.”[2] The specific time, the real city, and detailed family history as well as origin of the name of the figures are just like a live preclude to a real autobiography. The author put the figures in a specified time and space, made us feel like real. Therefore, if you read the words above, I think you will not have any doubt about the authenticity of the figures. 2.2The Authenticity of Time About the authenticity of time, most part of the novel develops with diary. Here, I choose parts of the diary and analyze it. “The Journal September 30, 1659. I, poor miserable Robinson Crusoe, being shipwrecked during a dreadful storm in the offing, came on shore on this dismal unfortunate island, which I called “the island of Despair”, all the rest of the Ship's Company being drowned and my self almost dead. October 1. In the morning I saw to my great surprise the ship had floated with the high tide, and was driven on shore again much nearer the Island, which as it was some comfort on one hand, for seeing her sit upright, and not broken to pieces, I hoped, if the wind abated, I might get on board, and get some food and necessaries out of her for my relief; so on the other hand, it renewed my grief at the loss of my comrades, who I imagined if we had all staid on board might have saved the ship, or at least that they would not have been all drowned as they were; and that had the men been saved, we might perhaps have built us a boat out of the ruins of the ship, to have carried us to some other part of the world. I spent great part of this day in perplexing my self on these things; but at length seeing the ship almost dry, I went upon the sand as near as I could, and then swam on board; this day also it continued raining, though with no wind at all. From the 1st of October to the 24th .All these days entirely spent in many several voyages to get all I could out of the ship, which I brought on shore ,though with some intervals of fair weather .But, it seems, this was the rainy season. October 20.I overset my raft, and all the goods I had got upon it, but being in shoal water, and the things being chiefly heavy, I recovered many of them when the tide was out. October 25.It rained all night and all day, with some gusts of wind ,during which time the ship broke in pieces, the wind blowing a little harder than before ,and was no more to be seen, except the wreck of her, and that only at low water . I spent this day in recovering and securing the goods which I had saved, that the rain might not spoil them.” [3] September 30, October 1, from the 1st of October to the 24th October 20 October 25, such a sequential concrete date numbers impress us a lot. We can feel what Robinson experienced in that month, which increased the authenticity of the story. Defoe described that Robinson returned to ship several times to carry back the things in the ship, and also described the items in detail, they included: food, rum, wood, clothes, workbox, ammunition, gun, axe and so on. He carried back the living necessities and un-necessities (such as money) to the island. It enhances the authenticity of the time and circumstances, in addition it is also the effective means that Defoe achieves the goal of keeping fiction and reality consistent with each other. 2.3 Description of Specific Details and Actions Description of specific details and real actions of figures is the soul of a great realism work . “Real details are the cells of the art, they are the indispensable means which describe the typical characteristics of the figures.” [4] Defoe just used such artistic means to create the strong third dimension. Robinson is from a middle class family, he might be well introduced, and had a prospect of raising his fortunes application and industry, with a life of ease and pleasure like his father. But he is a man ill at ease, which goes against his parents’ wishes. Just like what he said: “My inclination to this led me so strongly against the will, nay the commands, of my father, and against all the entreaties and persuasions of my mother and other that there seemed to be something fatal in that propension of nature tending directly to the life of misery which was to befall me.”[5] During the first navigation experience of the storm at sea, although he has wavered, the success of the adventure at the African coast made him even more determined to adventure again. Even when he sailed to Brazil and made a good fortune from the plant, he was not satisfied, so he went on to explore in the western Africa. Then “I was hurried on and obeyed blindly the dictates of my fancy rather than my reason.”[6] He was the sole survivor of the disaster. But he did not lose his hope, he knew that the first thing he should do is decide how to survive on the isolated island. He thought: “…..It was in vain to sit still and wish for what was not to be had.”[7] It is true that you should use your hands to create your living. So “I resolved to fall to work with these and flung as many of them overboard as I could manage for their weight.”[8] When the wind blew the boat away, he felt so good. He knew the things carried from the boat were not enough to support the life of the civilized people. The things would be used up sooner or later. So he gave the matter a second thought, did all kinds of things to sustain his life, such as housing, planting, domesticating livestock and so on. He planted a large farmland and reserved enough food, in this way he didn’t starve himself and had enough food to survive. But what Robinson wanted his own was not only his survival, but also all the things on the island. When he overlooked on the mountain, he thought: “This was all my own.”[9] And he treated “Friday” as his slave after he rescued him. And when he rescued the Spanish he even treated them as his subjects. When he ended the 28 years’ life on the isolated island, he repeatedly warned his subjects: “While you stay on this island with me, you will not pretend to any authority here, and in the meantime, be governed by my orders.”[10] 3. Conclusion The author described the characteristic of not at ease of Robinson thoroughly and vividly by description of specific details and actions. The creation of the realism technique is the reason why Robinson Crusoe is so famous for long time. Defoe completely broke the idealized creation of neoclassic model, and found the object of creation from the lower class. He described the plot with new technique which is the value of novel creation and achieved great success. \"Robinson Crusoe\" is not only the masterpiece of Defoe, the milestone of the literature creation, but also the beginning of the English Modern novel. References: [1]黄展人. 文学理论[M]. 广州:暨南大学出版社,1990.163, [2] [3] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]鲁滨逊漂流记[M]/(英)笛福（Defoe, D.）著.-上海：上海世界图书出版公司，2003.11 1,23,31,38,55-56,86,223 [4]黄展人.文学理论[M].广州:暨南大学出版社 , 1990.48
